tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55669953480007550102024-03-05T03:48:50.192-08:00Hitching SouthYvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-88691531486475651772013-09-08T08:27:00.002-07:002013-09-09T10:11:14.714-07:00Last six weeks in NZ - Ruapehu and National Park<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span lang="GA" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My last six weeks in New Zealand were spent
solely in National Park. National Park is the kind of town one could describe
as a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ kind of place. There’s a petrol station, which
serves as a supermarket, a handful of lodges and a couple of pub / restaurants.
However, it serves as the base for snowsport lovers, and those attempting the
famous</span><a href="http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ‘Tongariro Crossing’</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> hike. It also has wonderful walks with spectuacular
views of Ruapehu, one of the worlds most active and New Zealands largest volcano. There's also plenty of spots nearby for caving and climbing. The
permanent population of ‘Natty P’ is less than 300, which increases significantly
during the winter season, and sometimes things get a little ‘cray’! </span></span><span lang="GA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span lang="GA" style="font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arriving back was strange and wonderful.
Aisling, her friends Dave, Roseanne, Sam and I spent the night in the
neighbouring and somewhat more ‘sophisticated’ town of Ohakune in the cabin
they were renting for the weekend. They dropped me to National Park the next
day after a fun night out. We went for a lunchtime beer at Schnapps. It was a
cold, crisp day on June 27th. But the sun was shining and the mountains looked
pristine as we sat admiring the view. It was quite emotional for Ais and I. This
is where we began the journey of a life-time together one year ago. So much had changed, yet
so much was still the same.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They then dropped me to my lodge, the
National Park Hotel (or ‘The Hoe’ as it’s more affectionately known.) I had
called the new owners days before telling them I used to be a regular customer
in ‘the Hoe’, and that I was coming back to be their new ‘woofer’. I was
working for my accommodation there – I had already decided and I hadn’t even
spoken to them yet. I simply could not afford to pay rent at this point in
time. Luckily Wayne wasn’t hard to convince and I lived here almost rent free
for 6 weeks, doing odd jobs here and there. I also had my job in </span><a href="http://www.dineout.co.nz/restaurant.php?rest=6998" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eivins</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and
through chatting to people managed to get a few hours in another lodge in the
mornings. Sorted!</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first week back was lovely. Meeting again with old friends, making new ones and feeling that special, spiritual connection with the mountain set things off to a great start. After working for a while, I bought my </span><a href="http://www.mtruapehu.com/winter/lift-passes/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">‘Early Bird’ season pass</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (discounted through working in hospitality) and it was time to hit the slopes. It felt so good to be back snowboarding on the mountain that I knew so well and where I had so many amazing days last year. Overall, the snow wasn’t great for my time there but I didn’t let that stop my enjoyment, hitching up to the ‘Top of the Bruce’ every chance I got. I spent some time riding with ‘Dutchie’, an experienced instructor working at Ruapehu. Observing my riding, he said I was at level four/five out of six. He gave me such simple tips that helped me improve within minutes. One thing on my bucket list is to get my instructors course and be able to teach for a season. Working as a primary school teacher in Ireland would allow me to spend summers off instructing in new Zealand. We’ll see! I really enjoyed working in Eivins this time around. The owners treated my like their daughter and I developed a great relationship with all of our local customers. The ‘craic was mighty’, as we say in Ireland! I met some really fun and quirky characters this season, a lot of who lived at the Hoe. We had great fun there, and although the lodge was, well, a royal kip – I still enjoyed every minute of it. Just like last year, National Park served us well and there was always a party to go to or something on! Whether it be a house-party, a bonfire party or quiz-night in </span><a href="http://www.schnappsbarruapehu.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Schnapps</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> – we were never stuck!</span> </div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was so happy to spend my last six weeks in
this beautiful part of the world. As I said before, there is something
spiritual about Ruapehu and National Park, and many people who live here or have spent time here will say so. Having had the most perfect year, it
felt only right to finish it off in a place I felt lucky enough to
call my home away from home. Through out my travels, there was always a worry in the very back of my head about coming home, about going back to my old life and longing to get away again. But as the weeks went by at Ruapehu, something came over me, a simple feeling of spiritual contentment. There was a quiet reassurance
inside myself that everything was going to be okay, that life was only going to get better, and that while there may be hurdles ahead, there was nothing to worry about. All could be perfectly well, if I let it be. A feeling quite simple, yet profound. Being at Ruapehu definitely
helped create this feeling. And after about fifteen months away in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, a lot of craziness, a lot of 'contemplation' and a lot of fun I was finally ready to come home.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, for a while.</span> </span></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-5443695268321934892013-08-30T15:29:00.000-07:002013-09-09T14:56:35.168-07:00Tekapo and Snowboarding before return to the North Island<style>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So the time eventually came for me to move on
again. My time in Queenstown was short yet wonderfully sweet - but money was getting
extremely tight. Last year during winter, I worked in a restaurant in National
Park called Eivins. It supplemented my hours working on Mount Ruapehu and
luckily the owner was willing to give me my job back again this winter so time
to get back up North to the wonderful little village that was my first home in
New Zealand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="GA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lake Tekapo</span></b></span><br />
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<span lang="GA" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But some fun first before I got back to work.
On Monday June 24th, after a few sad goodbyes to good friends, I got Nakedbus (ticket bought for 10 dollars on </span><a href="http://www.grabone.co.nz/auckland/view-all" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grabone</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Could be redeemed against any journey. So worth it!) up to Christchurch to meet my old campervan mate, Nadine. As the bus pulled out
of Queenstown the sun was rising, and I took in the sights of those beautiful
mountains one last time. I tried to sleep but to no avail, and when I gave up and
opened my eyes, I was amazed at how much snow there was on the mountains. It was
incredible and made me so excited for snow season again. I was so delighted to
hear we were stopping at Lake Tekapo for an hour. I really wanted to visit this
region but circumstances didn’t allow me so having this stop off was perfect.
As the bus arrived we were greeted by the most beautiful, blue, glistening lake
surrounded by pure white hills of snow. The sun was shining and yet again I’m
in awe at another incredible sight. I got off the bus, saw a mssive mound of
snow on the side of the road and decide to try stand on top of it. I
underestimated the lovely, fluffiness of the snow and ended up waist high in
the stuff. It was great! The snow had only fallen the night before and must
have been a metre deep. I had to trudge down to the lake through it all, not
wanting to miss out on a half hour sitting in bliss by Lake Tekapo. And bliss
it was.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="GA" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snowboarding at Mount Hutt</span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I arrived in Christchurch quite late. Nadine
was arriving a few hours after me so it was my job to find a hostel where off
street parking for campervans was allowed. After an hour or so of more trudging
with my suitcase I found </span><a href="http://www.kiwibasecamp.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kiwi Basecamp Hostel.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For 15 each, we could both sleep in the
campervan and use all of the facilities. There was also free fresh bread in the
morning so breakfast was sorted. Sweet! After a glass of wine, a catch up with
Nadine and some other guests – it was bedtime. Being so wrecked, I fell alseep
pretty fast. But no – I definitely had not missed living out of a campervan.
The reason I was meeting Nadine was to go snowboarding at Mount Hutt, a big
resort an hour and a half from Christchurch close to the town of Methven. I was broke so originally told Nadine
it wasn’t possible to meet her for a couple of days on the slopes, but as she was
learning and buying a season pass and of course wanting my wonderful company,
she most generally agreed to shout me the day and a half. Nadine – you rock and I owe you big-time. Serious appreciation girl!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOXabTPQJKQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Video from the top of the mountain</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We were both up early the next day, all
excited to get out to the snow. After a cold shower (if you book into this
hostel make sure you ask them the night before if the hot water is working!),
we had breakfast and hit the road. The journey there was lovely, and getting
closer and closer to the mountains on such a lovely sunny day after a massive dump
of snow was leaving me beyond excited. After lots of rigmaroll what with
getting set up with wheel chains for the drive up the mountain, gear and passes
– we got out onto the slopes soon after lunch for a half day. I was stoked to
get back snowboarding and had a great time. The view of the Canterbury plains
from the top of Mount Hutt is spectacular and as we drove home exhausted, we
admired the sun setting. </span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We found a very, very basic </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g658481-d2048989-Reviews-Methven_Camping_Ground-Methven_Canterbury_Region_South_Island.html" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">campsite in Methven</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">,
(only stay if very necessary) showered, ate Nadines delicious home-made soup and went in search of some life
in the town. We had a drink and a boogie and went back to the campsite for a few zzzz’s. It was EXTREMELY cold that night and I began to wonder as I drifted off to sleep how Nadine was living out of her van for the whole year. Respect! The next
day was brilliant and Nadine was definitely showing an aptitude for snowboarding.
I went off on my own while Nadine had lessons. Soon I met a girl who was at a similar level to me so we had some fun cruising around together. Overall - it was a fantastic few days. Snowboarding on a three metre deep base so early in the season was a serious treat. With great weather and great company - what's there to complain about? The next morning I got a shuttle to the airport early to catch my flight to Auckland. I booked a week in advance and paid 60 dollars to fly </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.jetstar.com/nz/en/home" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jetstar</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">, a highly recommended airline with excellent value. My first and best friend in New Zealand, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://nztravelz.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aisling</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> and her friends picked me up at the airport and we began our road-trip back to Ruapehu, where the dream began just over a year previously.</span> </span></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-58399985923373486562013-08-30T15:27:00.000-07:002013-08-30T15:27:16.906-07:00On a budget in Queenstown?<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If you have money to spare while traveling through Queenstown, it is an incredible place for anyone who knows how to have a good time. From outdoor adventure to funky bars and restaurants, it really has it all. Having said that, being a poor wanderer like myself in this city was not so bad. In fact, it was wonderful. I made the most of my time here despite being broke. If you're on a budget here's some recommendations;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Free Fun In Queenstown</b></span></div>
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<u><a href="http://www.queenstowndiscgolf.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></a></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.queenstowndiscgolf.co.nz/" target="_blank">Queenstown Gardens and Frisbee/Disc Golf</a></span></b></i><u><b> </b></u>- There is an 18 hole course in the Gardens which offers fantastic views over the lake. The gardens themselves are beautiful and it's worth going to visit the huge plaque in memorial of the brave explorer, Robert Falcon Scott, who died of starvation and hypothermia while exploring the Antarctic regions in 1912. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><i><b>Sit by the Lakefront</b></i> </u></span>- Grab a coffee, sit on the stone wall in front of the lake and marvel at the sight in front of you. No matter what the season, this view could never be anything but jaw-dropping. Grab some bread and feed the ducks, enjoy the buskers, admire the slackliners, watch the paragliders doing swirls in the sky. There's also some interesting landmarks like the one below. And of course If you enjoy people watching, there will no doubt be plenty of characters to feast your eyes on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EfPVbMfjkA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUVyvpe3CbfI-5lO43Q7hZ2Q" target="_blank">Video of Queenstown Lakefront</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.queenstownicearena.co.nz/" target="_blank"><u>Icehockey</u></a></i> </b></span>- In winter there is a local league. Go to the stadium at the back of the gardens to enjoy great team spirit and atmosphere. I was really taken aback at the skill of some of the players. Great watching!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/queenstown-wakatipu/" target="_blank"><u><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Walk</b></span></i> </u></a>- There are endless walks in Queenstown. Each one as lovely as the next. Some of my favourites include Sunshine Bay, the Gondola walk (watch the zipliners as you do it), the walk to Frankton along the lake and Queenstown Hill. They each make for amazing photo opportunities and clean, fresh air in the lungs. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.newzealand.com/ie/article/lord-of-the-rings-roadtrip-guide/" target="_blank"><u style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Visit Lord of the Rings Filming Locations</b></span></i> </u></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">- There are plenty of these scattered all around Queenstown. In the AA road atlas map you'll find ring symbols scattered everywhere directing you where to go. A lot easier on wheels than on foot! Great fun for all those LOTR fans! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.bungy.co.nz/kawarau-bungy-centre/kawarau-bungy" target="_blank">Watch bunjee jumpers at Kawarau Bridge</a></b></span></i> - I was lucky enough to work at a function at AJ Hackett Bunjee one day. Unfortunately being out of pocket meant I couldn't jump myself but I had great fun watching! This bridge was originally the only road into Queenstown and has been described as a 'model structure in both design and workmanship'. The area has a lot of interesting history. Worth a visit! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good Value Food, Bevs and Dancing</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.searlelane.co.nz/" target="_blank">Searle Lane</a></span></i> </b>- Cheap drinks, Live games on their big screen TV, great dancing after 11.30pm, pool table, VERY good-looking staff. Need I say more? Become a member which is free and you'll get at least 5 free drinks a week. GRAND! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/information/product/?product=cowboy-qt" target="_blank">Cowboys</a></span></i> </b>- 10 dollar MASSIVE pints, free pizza and nibbles without request, huge cosy fire and a mechanical bull. I chose here as a day time, 'lets go for one' kind of bar. Beware of potential night-time activities that can occur here; namely drinking 15 cheap tequila shots and getting flung off the bull, as has happened to friends. I wont go into detail. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cowboys</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barnesy in Cowboys</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.1876.co.nz/" target="_blank">1876</a></span></i> </b>- 4 Dollar drinks. A favourite amongst us young folk without a parade of backpackers. Trendy vibe and relaxed atmosphere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.brazz.co.nz/" target="_blank">Brazz</a></i></span> </b>- 10 dollar all day, full breakfast. So, so worth it! Delicious coffee too. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.cookietime.co.nz/queenstown_shop/" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.cookietime.co.nz/queenstown_shop/" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Cookietime</a></b></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b>- Delicious delicious delicious half-price cookies from 5-6pm. Their hot chocolate is also wonderful! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So there you have it my friends - how to have a great time in Queenstown on an extreme budget! Enjoy! </span><br />
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<br />Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-28926135306079977402013-08-14T16:45:00.000-07:002013-08-30T16:01:39.464-07:00Life in Queenstown<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Where to start. Well it's been a long time since my last post. And I suppose having a good time has been getting in the way! I flew home to Ireland on August 8th and am only getting the chance to catch up with my blog now - finally! My last few months in New Zealand were filled with memories I can't even describe. Leaving was difficult, but necessary, and since I've been home I'm appreciating what a beautiful place I live in and what wonderful friends and family I have.</div>
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SO - Queenstown! Such a wicked little town full of vibrant people, magical scenery and hidden treasures. Known as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four season lake and alpine resort, this gem of a spot is surrounded by majestic mountains and sits on the shores of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. If you feel like going to a spa for a day to relax, I would recommend just going to Queenstown instead! Taking a walk here would revitalise a ninety year old shriveled prune.</div>
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A duck hanging out on the Lake front</div>
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View of the mountains </div>
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Queenstown Harbour</div>
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Queenstown Lakefront</div>
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I lived like a backpacker while traveling before arriving in Queenstown, but I still treated myself and made sure I had a good time. My funds at this point weren't abysmal - but I certainly needed to watch my spending and find some kind of work. The problem was this - every young person has heard about how amazing Queenstown is in winter, and every young person ascends on the town looking for work; many of them kiwis with no visa restrictions or other travelers with plenty of time left on their one / two year visa. I was not one of those people so finding work for the presumably short time I was there was near impossible. Luckily I secured myself work for accommodation in the lovely <a href="http://www.bumblesbackpackers.co.nz/" target="_blank">Bumbles Hostel</a>, right on the lakefront. I worked three hours a day, five days a week and didn't have to pay a penny in rent. It was a combination of being in the right place at the right time and a bit of a slog on my part in looking for somehow to sustain myself that this came about. I was only in Queenstown three days and yet there were people like me there six weeks with out work and paying 160 dollars a week in rent....in a hostel! I was not going to be one of those people. I also got a little bit (well a tiny bit) of temping work through <a href="http://www.awf.co.nz/" target="_blank">AWF</a>, which made life a bit easier. I wanted to live in Queenstown and I was going to make it happen - there was no two ways about it.</div>
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View from our deck at Bumbles</div>
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Living in arguably the most beautiful city in the world was dream-worthy. Time was spent meeting old friends, making new ones, hiking, drinking tea, trying out new recipes, sitting at the lake-front, wishing I could afford to go snowboarding (although there was very little snow), getting to know the inside of night clubs and pubs quite well (Searle Lane mostly), eating Fergburger at 4am, watching hockey games, laughing in the dungeon (our room at Bumbles), people-watching and reminiscing about my year in New Zealand and how it had impacted on my life. Time passed slowly by and I had the chance to think about the last twelve months, the next twelve months and what they would throw at me, and about my place as just one of seven billion people in this world. Things were uncertain, yet I was free, hopeful and happy.</div>
Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-74503807028500353892013-06-08T23:51:00.000-07:002013-06-08T23:55:52.438-07:00Day 15 (May 29th) Wanaka and arrival in Queenstown! <div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I woke up at about 8am ready to go out hiking. As I walked out of my dorm I was greeted by a massive blanket of snow and a complete white out with very little visibility so hiking could be a bit dodgy. However, after forty minutes and a hearty breakfast, the weather and visibility was improving significantly. Xavier and I decided we would climb Iron, a short walk from the hostel so we could see the beautiful views in Wanaka which is known as a town of natural mountain and lake splendour. The location of Wanaka at the foot of the Southern Alps
with the wilderness of the Mt Aspiring National Park nearby makes it a
magnet for outdoor lovers the world over. We are pretty chuffed there's been such a heavy snowfall which really add to the beauty. Mount Iron is an impressive, glacier carved, rocky knoll that rises
nearly 250 metres above the surrounding countryside. As a result, from
the summit there are excellent 360-degree views of the The Pisa range,
the Upper Clutha Basin, Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. It is approximately an hour to the summit. What a lovely walk! And there's snow everywhere, including some mini snowmans which have been made by other walkers who have been out earlier than us. It really feels like winter now and it's a beautiful, cold but fresh day. There are really cute little rabbits running around everywhere but they are too quick for us to get any decent pictures. I'm still quite excited by this as I have never seen them in such abundance on any walks in Ireland. We reach the top, breathe in the clean air and take some pictures. </div>
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Views from Mount Iron</div>
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I would love to explore some more of Wanaka and check out the cute little town but I'm eager to get to Queenstown where I have good friends waiting my arrival. I head back to the hostel, grab my bag and get out on the road. I am so excited to get there! I have heard nothing but excellent things about this tiny little winter paradise. After about 15 minutes, I'm picked up by Sarah, a young, kiwi artist who wants to 'revolutionise hugging' and really appreciates all the beautiful things and beautiful people around her. She is great fun and obviously talented. Check out her stuff <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/justbecausestudiocom/574321529261872" target="_blank">here!</a> She drops me in Frankton and I'm soon picked up by another Kiwi man, Danny, who feels sorry for me lugging my bag along the road in the snow. Yay! It's snowing again as we arrive in Queenstown and I am already loving the city as I admire the place before being dropped right at my hostel, <a href="http://absoloot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Absoloot</a>. I get inside, have some dinner, get ready and then meet Charlotte in <a href="http://www.1876.co.nz/" target="_blank">1876</a>, a cute and classy bar in town with excellent drink prices. We catch up and hours later I go to sleep dreaming of a wonderful winter in a wonderful winterland, Queenstown. </div>
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<br />Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-19746977261608953602013-06-08T16:13:00.004-07:002013-06-08T16:24:46.526-07:00Day 14 (may 28th) Hitching to Wanaka<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I get up today to better weather and head out to the main road, one minute from Ivory Towers Hostel, to begin hitchhiking. The day is finally clear and there is a great view of the mountains with a fresh dusting of snow on top. I feel like I'm in Franz Josef again as there are very few cars going by. I think I am being picked up by an Asian couple, but instead they turn into the petrol station opposite me, get out of the car and start taking pictures of the petrol pump and the discount signs. Random. Then they drive the opposite direction. Darn! An hour and a half later, I'm leaving the convenience store with a $1.50 Pams pie in hand and no lift. I give it about another half hour and by 1pm, decide I'm going to have to cheat again and get a dreaded BUS! I meet Joe (funny Joe who played charades with us the other night) at the bus stop and we both get on the 1.30pm bus to Wanaka. The driver is cracking jokes here and there and giving us a running commentary on everything we are passing, which is pretty cool. We stop at Knights Point and look out onto the Tasman Sea, one of the roughest in the world. Apparently boats and sailors have just completely disappeared here, without a trace of their existence. To the southwest there is no land between here and the Antarctic. The tremendous energy of the storms across this ocean has a powerful and changing effect on this coastline. Pretty awesome!</div>
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We then drive through Haast. This region covers over 2,500 square kilometres of diverse and spectacular landscapes. As we drive up through the mountainous areas, there is snow and ice on the roads from the night before, which may turn to black ice later and cause major problems. Lucky we are driving through when it's not dark! There's also waterfalls cascading down absolutely everywhere. Apparently, Haast gives a unique insight into the 'Real New Zealand', a rare gem unspoilt by humans and thriving with native bird life. E.E Muir said in 1929 that 'the whole district of South Westland is a perfect paradise to the botanist and indeed any liver of nature', and it's easy to see what he is talking about while driving through. Unfortunately I didn't get any great pictures from the moving bus but we stopped at the only cafe along the way and the picture is below! It's an enjoyable drive with good banter from Joe as we indulge ourselves with ginger cookies and oreos along the way.</div>
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We reach Wanaka at about 5.30pm, just as it's getting dark. The view of the lake and the mountains behind as we approached on the bus was amazing. It is absolutely freezing when I get off the bus! I wave goodbye to Joe and set off in search of a hostel. I text Sarah, my personal Isite again and she recommends<a href="http://www.wanakabackpackers.co.nz/" target="_blank"> 'Mountain View' </a>which is warm, friendly and good value. I meet Xavier, another charades buddy and fellow hitchhiker and we chill for the night and watch 'Buried' on the big flat screen TV. I'm still undecided as to whether I love or hate the movie. Another early night for me so we can do some hikes tomorrow in beautiful Wanaka!</div>
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Knights Point</div>
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Haast</div>
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Haast</div>
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<br />Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-41765427910377625132013-06-03T05:43:00.000-07:002013-06-08T16:11:24.733-07:00Day 13 ( May 26th) - More glacial activity<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
So I wake up today to thunder, lightning and heavy, heavy rain. I was going to get on the road again but being soaking wet for hours in a car wasn't appealing. I decided to stay in the hostel another night so I could re-group and figure out my next steps. But I hate wasting days so I decide I must brave the rain and at least leave the hostel for an hour. I ended up taking a walk to the glacier. It started in the rainforest which is so nice to walk through in the lashing rain - it seems to come alive - the smells become stronger and the colours become brighter. I then come across 'Historic Bridge' which is your typical, rickety New Zealand bridge that allows a walkway over a rapidly running river. I walk onto the bridge to get some pictures and feel like I'm about to be blown over the side. It's scary but fun! I continue to walk and the wind is absolutely howling. I consider turning back but I've walked about an hour and a half at this stage - might as well power through. I finally reach the walk to the glacier. Physically, the walk there is very similar to Franz Josef. Fox Glacier is also a little more exciting, however, as when you make your way to the top of the stony hill and finally reach the top - you are a lot closer to the glacier than what you would be at Franz Josef. You can also see ice caves which are pretty awesome looking. By the time I get back, the wind is blowing even harder and the rain is pelting down. I am drenched and can barely walk against the strength of the wind. Luckily - two Irish guys who happen to be glacier guides stop and tell me to get in. I wish I met them on the way and maybe they could have brought me onto the glacier. Ah well! They drop me all the way back to town, I apologise for ruining the back seat with rain and muck and I head back for a long hot shower. I spent the rest of the day chilling and trying to plan what happens next. Check out the last picture of the glacier below with the people walking on it to get an idea of the size of it. </div>
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Historic Bridge</div>
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On my lonesome </div>
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Historic Bridge</div>
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Glacial Ice Cave</div>
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People walking on the glacier</div>
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Clear waters on the way to the glacier</div>
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I decided before I started my hitchhiking travels that I wanted to go to
all the places I've already been, but also to Milford Sound, Mt. Cook,
Lake Tekapo and Dunedin. I didn't actually do any research on getting to
these places, and figured that it was probably very do-able in two or
three weeks. I didn't look at the road situation. Nope! And as the first
few days carried on and I actually began to look at a map I realised what I was dealing with it. Mount Cook is really close the the glaciers, but you have
to drive South for a few hours, then East for a little bit, and back up
North again to get there. Google maps can't even figure out the route.
But you have to drive at least 1000 kilometers in what should only be
about 100 kilometers. I wont even get started on getting to Milford
Sound. Have a look at the map below - Fox Glacier is a little more than
half way down the West Coast, slightly inland. The routes you see are
the only roads to take from town to town. So going to these places isn't
really going to happen in the few weeks as hitchhiking could go
horribly wrong when I need to hitch so far in one day. The road the
Milford Sound is closed at the moment anyway so I decide I'll head to
Wanaka next, then Queenstown. And I'll do weekend or day trips from
there with friends!</div>
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<br />Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-16360669124988275732013-05-29T18:53:00.002-07:002013-06-08T16:07:32.857-07:00Day 12 (May 25th) Skydiving at Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
So I woke up this morning with a strange urge to jump out of a plane over a glacier. Oh how convenient being in the Glacier Country and all that. I found a voucher (heads up those who want to do a skydive over a glacier) in the free South Island road map (found in any i-site) offering free photos and a t-shirt for Fox Glacier Sky Dive. Sweet. So I leave Shelley with some chocolate as a thank you and get on the road hitching. After twenty minutes, literally not one car has driven by. It's 10.00am on a Saturday morning, on the main road, in one of the most popular tourists spots in the whole country AND a lovely day. This will give you an idea of how little people there is on the South Island, tourists or no tourists. I head to the I-site and ask about the shuttle. Even though it's Saturday - it's not running. Right...! So I tell the lady I'm 'planning' on doing a sky dive over Fox Glacier and within one minutes she has called them, booked my skydive and organised for them to come pick me up, free of charge. Awesome! But also...... no turning back now. Oh wow. They are coming to pick me up at 1.30pm, so I kill a few hours in<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g609170-d3209512-Reviews-Full_of_Beans-Franz_Josef_Westland_National_Park_Te_Wahipounamu_South_Island.html" target="_blank"> 'Full of Beans' </a>cafe with a delicious Mocha Frappe and free wifi. I also meet Shelley again who is egging me on for what I'm about to do.</div>
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When I get picked up I realise that there really is <i>no turning back!</i> We pick up a French hitchhiker, Xavier and begin to watch a video. We then sign forms. The company will not pay out any insurance or take any responsibility <i>should I die</i>. Okay. No worries. No worries whatsoever. We get to the drop zone, are kitted out and before I know it we are in the plane taking off. At the moment, I have the same feeling I have 10 minutes before curtain call the first night of a theatre show. Except a million times worse. I am <i>TERRIFIED</i>. I would like to think of myself as a cool 'adrenalin junkie' but I am definitely not cool enough to give myself that label. And this feeling confirms that! Within minutes, my legs are out the door, I am posing (or just sitting there hyperventilating) for the 'wing photo' and BOOM I am tumbling through the clouds. I'm also screaming so hard that I've forgotten to breathe so after finding my breathe and realising I'm not dead I begin to enjoy the experience of flying through the air at 12,000 feet above the ground. And it's pure unadulterated bliss! The view of the glacier, and the Tasman sea meeting land is spectacular. When we finally reach the ground I am buzzing and wondering when I can do my next skydive. What a rush! I would really recommend <a href="http://www.skydivingnz.co.nz/" target="_blank">this company</a> and at 300 dollars for 12,000 feet, pick up from another town, free wing photos and a t-shirt - I think I got a quality bargain! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Skydive Fox Glacier </span></div>
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When I get to my hostel <a href="http://www.ivorytowers.co.nz/" target="_blank">Ivory Towers</a> in the cute, alpine township of Fox Glacier, I meet Xavier, our hitchhiker from earlier, and also two new guys - Dror from Israel and Joe from the UK. We all get chatting and decide to head to Lake Matheson to catch the sun go down. Dror has a car so we are there in ten minutes. We begin the walk and are laughing and joking along the way - these three guys together are hilarious and it certainly doesn't feel like I've only known them only half an hour. I also cannot wipe the permanent happy grin off my face because I just jumped out of a plane. Ahhh! Lake Matheson is also known as 'Mirror Lake', famous for the beautiful reflections it creates. We are told not to count on getting the money shot and it's 'rarely still enough' to really capture the beauty but I think we did a good enough job. We reach 'Reflection Island' and admire the mountains in the lake. We play a few echo games and joke push eachother in before walking back through the forest in the dark to the car. We pick up a few beers, head back to the hostel, play charades, watch stupid prank videos and laugh uncontrollably for the rest of the evening. It's perfect days like today that will make me smile when I'm old and grey. And I'll know that I have truly lived. </div>
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Cue slagging. </div>
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<br />Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-84225140904914379882013-05-26T03:06:00.001-07:002013-08-14T16:50:27.402-07:00Day 11 (May 24th) - Franz Josef Glacier<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The party was great last night at Shelleys but as it wound down at about 4am, I decided I wanted to go to sleep. As I had the couch, I had to sleep amidst the few stragglers who were left chatting. This morning, I realise I had made a very stupid decision. When I went to the bathroom, I was greeted by my face, which now resembled the face of a cat, one that is sporting an undesirable body part on its cheek. Wonderful. When Will, sleeping on the other couch wakes up and sees me, he starts laughing uncontrollably but then stops when it dawns on him that if my face has been sabotaged, so has is! Shelley then gets up, laughs hysterically and we sit and drink tea for an hour. I spend the next hour scrubbing my face until it's red raw and in pain. I still resemble a cat but not to worry. It will give people a reason to stare. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelley and I in Monsoon Bar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers guys</td></tr>
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I walk into the quaint little town of Franz Josef and decide to do the glacier walk. It's a fine day - perfect for a bit of a hike. The staggering development of Franz Josef and Fox glacier is largely due to the endless rain of the West Coast. Snow falling in the glaciers broad accumulation zones fuses into clear ice at 20 metres depth, then surges down valleys. The glaciers are particularly steep, so the ice travels a long way before finally melting. Although 140 glaciers flow from the Southern Alps, only these two glaciers reach the lower rainforests and sit at just 250 metres above sea level, making them accessible to the public. To actually get onto the glacier, one must do a guided tour which proves to be quite expensive (generally all over 150 dollars and my bank balance isn't looking majorly healthy) so I think getting 200 metres away from the glacier is good enough for me. </div>
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I walk from the town, through the rainforest and reach the car-park after approximately an hour. Shelley has recommended I do the walk to 'Peters Pool', about 25 minutes from where I am. When I get there, the view is wonderful. The mountains and glaciers are reflected in the small pond and as it is such a calm day, the surface of the water is perfectly still and undisturbed so the reflection is flawless. It's a beautiful sight. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View at Peters Pool</td></tr>
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I walk back and then begin the walk to the glacier which is an hour and a half return. It takes me through the rainforest again and eventually I reach the glacier valley. Early Maori called the glacier '<i>Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere' - </i>the tears of the avalanche girl. The legend tells of a girl whose tears froze to form the glacier after her lover fell to his death from one of the peaks. I feel like I'm in an ancient valley, completely alone and vulnerable (as there doesn't seem to be anyone else doing the walk) but it feels awesome. On each side of me are rising concrete cliffs and a river runs along side me over more stone. Gushing waterfalls and greenery adorn the sides of the cliffs that both lead up to glacier in the centre in front of me. I finally get to the top viewing point to see the ice, as hard as steel. It's pretty spectacular and my photos don't really do the sight justice. Although the glacier is really impressive, it's more the whole scene that gets me, and the sheer size of what I am standing in, completely alone. This is probably the only time I will stand right in front of a glacier so I sit, breathe in the clear air and marvel at the sight in front of me for a few minutes. It is tempting to go beyond the barrier and explore further, but there are clear signs warning against this, one containing a copy of the newspaper cut out detailing the death of two tourists who tried to brave the elements and were hit and killed by falling ice. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glacier walk</td></tr>
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It's actually beginning to get dark and I knew I shouldn't have set off
so late. If I were to be caught down here before reaching the beginning
of the valley I'd be in trouble as there is obviously no 'street lights'. I
hurry back and make my way towards town. I decide after about four
hours of walking I'm too lazy to cook so I head to <a href="http://www.menus.co.nz/listing/58vk/the-landing/" target="_blank">the Landing</a>
for some grub. A delicious sirloin burger and chips is 22 dollars. The
atmosphere is great and staff are friendly so it's definitely worth it.
Shelley's working again tonight so it's home, an episode of 'Mad Men'
and sleep time for me! The view of the moon is beautiful as I walk. Oh
New Zealand, you spoil us!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moon over Franz Josef</td></tr>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-71335106434793046972013-05-25T23:51:00.001-07:002013-06-08T16:29:39.761-07:0023rd May (Day 10) Road to Franz Josef<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</style> It’s time to get back on the road down the
West coast. Luke went back to work in Christchurch yesterday so I’m going solo
again. I have my free breakfast and head into town and towards highway 6. About
20 minutes after I have my thumb out, a massive freight truck drives towards me
and stops about 3 inches in front of me. The driver is laughing and obviously
very entertained. He gets out, lugs my bag inside and I climb up what seems
like 10 metres into the passenger seat. Warren, a middle-aged Kiwi man
brings me to Hokitika, drives through the town (seems to be a true wild west town but I don't have time to explore) and then drops me at a perfect hitching post. Happy days! After ten minutes, Thomas, a young Kiwi guy brings me to the tiny town of Ross, where he is from. </div>
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On our way in we come across a really cool looking house with car registrations stuck all over it and on the fence surrounding it. I start to hitch again outside what looks like a closed pub, with more car registrations stuck all over the wall. After two minutes, two men wander outside the pub and say hello. We get chatting - the guys names are Muz and Tommy. Muz has collected old and new motorbikes for years. There is a pub / cafe next door but this part of the pub has been turned into Muz' storage place for all of these cool bikes. He takes me inside and shows me around. He's hoping to perhaps turn it into a mini museum, which could be another drawing point for the town of Ross. There is some amazing bikes and really interesting memorabilia, and I'm delighted I've been dropped off here. Unfortunately I haven't got much time to spend with Muz as I need to get to Franz Josef before dark. He tells me if I had time he would take me up to the graveyard a short drive away to where there are many Irish men buried. They came to Ross in the 1800's to make their gold fortune, but unfortunately a lot of them died in mining accidents or in other unfortunate events. Many of them were only in their forties. Muz also tells me that Ross is a town of glories lost. It's where the unearthing of NZ's largest gold nugget, the 2.772kg 'Honourable Roddy', caused a kerfuffle in 1907. Just as we finish our lovely chat and I begin hitchhiking again, a beautiful and bright rainbow appears right over the house I saw when I first drove into Ross. It happens to be Muz' house. Does it seem weird that I feel like it's a sign for something? Maybe. But it feels special.</div>
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Some of the motor-bike memorabilia at Ross</div>
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Muz and I </div>
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Beautiful rainbow over Muz' house</div>
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Beautiful Lake Lanthe</div>
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Lake Lanthe</div>
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Little town of Hari Hari</div>
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Hari Hari</div>
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Soon before our arrival in Franz Josef</div>
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The first car that drives by picks me up. I hop in with Emma and Zita, a lovely Maori lady and her daughter. We have a great chat along the way. She wants to stop to use the facilities at Lake Lanthe which I am delighted about because it is such a beautiful lake and the sun is shining down on it. Together with the surrounding native forest, it creates wonderful views. We arrive in the even tinier town of Hari Hari, where Emma lives, and she drops me on the main road slightly down from the town where it will be easy to hitch. It's getting late at this stage and it's going to get dark soon - I remember my rule - don't hitch when it's getting dark! However, I'm enjoying the sun setting and the view of the mountains. This place is beautiful. There's a few cars going by but nobody picking me up. I begin to get irritated by the millions of sandflies and decide after half an hour it's time to call it a day. I'm thinking I'm a bit screwed as there is no backpacker in Hari Hari. Uh-oh! Just as I start walking back to the town, a car driving the opposite direction to where I am going stops, turns around and pulls up beside me. The luck of the Irish yet again prevails. I get into the car with Lynn and Greg, an Australian couple who have a daughter of a similar age to me and they wouldn't like to see her hitchhiking in the middle of nowhere. They are also primary school teachers and we have a great chat, admire the views and even stop to take some pictures. Just before we arrive in Franz Josef, we are pulled over by the cops. Greg is wondering what he's been doing wrong but turns out he didn't have the lights on properly. Phew - that could have become interesting. They drop me right to Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef where my friend Shelley works and who I am staying with tonight. Perfect!</div>
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I meet Shelley and she takes me to her house about two minutes away. She has to head off to work so leaves me be. I make beans on toast - perfect, delicious, backpacker food and chill out. A short while later her room-mate Tom comes home and invites me out with him and his friends. They are going to head to <a href="http://www.rainforestretreat.co.nz/facilities/monsoon-bar/" target="_blank">Monsoon Bar</a> where Shelley works so it sounds perfect to me. Soon after we arrive, I bump into a friend, Chris, who I worked with in Pipers Lodge in National Park on the North Island. We have a great catch up! I wait for Shelley to finish work and we head back to hers with a load more eager party-goers in tow. Good times! </div>
Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-59035941234363620452013-05-24T18:11:00.001-07:002013-06-08T19:01:26.183-07:00Day 9 (22nd May) - Greymouth<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
So it was never really part of my plan to spend any time in Greymouth. But today I'm feeling lazy, there's free wifi, a warm fire and fun people in the hostel. I decide to have a lazy day here and move on tomorrow. I figure I at least need to get out for an hour so I head into the 'enchanting Greymouth' to see what's on offer. It's all in the name really. It's grey. Greymouth gets on average about 2575mm of rain yearly and today is no exception. This town is the largest on the West coast and the commercial heart of this side of the country. The boom time for the town was the 1860's for the gold rush, and you could say there is still a character and pioneering spirit to the place. I walk along the coast and learn about some of the huge gold-mining disasters that have happened over the years. I also wander by Monteiths Brewery. From humble beginnings in 1868, the brewery has won international acclaim for its boutique beers. I walk across Cobden Bridge to do 'Lions Walk' which is about a twenty minute uphill walk through Rapahoe Range scenic reserve with a great view up above. I don't think Greymouth is enchanting, but I'm sure it is a lot nicer during summer time.<br />
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I decide that's enough for me for the day and head back to the hostel. I wish I had a onesie right now as I'm freezing and wet. One of the other guests however just has a fresh, pear sponge cake coming out of the oven and is offering us all a piece (all three of us). Oh I couldn't, okay I could...oh maybe I'll have 6 slices actually. It was delicious!!! Day 9 over. </div>
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<br />Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-7741314085854447102013-05-24T17:27:00.000-07:002013-08-14T15:53:14.173-07:00Day 8 (May 21st) Road West through Arthurs Pass<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today is the day I am hitching through Arthurs Pass
over to the west coast. I’m slightly nervous about this as it is one road up
through the Mountains where the temperature drops significantly and there is
just bush and nothingness all around, including limited phone signal. And if an
axe murderer did actually pick me up and intend to murder me – there wouldn’t
be many who would hear my cry.
So…I decided to cheat. Luke, (who picked me up for the Akaroa trip)
decides he is still in holiday mode and agrees to come along for the adventure
through the mountains. A lift all the way. RESULT!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejnkaQllcx74uqP27GGBhM7bZcLpuUJHskUyD_IiGnJD-f2qkWjmfyyLaM9ckpGBGZqT6Eayx0etle4T2-fykfmHHd_mrs3saPWxYn41r4zU2nSrWAr0efkGDARbntWIMpuwy3_3nSas/s1600/DSCF0315.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejnkaQllcx74uqP27GGBhM7bZcLpuUJHskUyD_IiGnJD-f2qkWjmfyyLaM9ckpGBGZqT6Eayx0etle4T2-fykfmHHd_mrs3saPWxYn41r4zU2nSrWAr0efkGDARbntWIMpuwy3_3nSas/s320/DSCF0315.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Driving through the mountains</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We set off early in the rain and fog of
Christchurch but soon enough it begins to clear and the stunning views are
visible. Nowhere else in New Zealand does the coast rise to mountains so
quickly. From Christchurch the road traverses the Canterbury plains and
escalates rapidly into the Porter Heights and Craigieburn skiing areas before
following the Waimakariri and Bealey rivers to Arthurs Pass. This drive is a
sight to behold - beautiful mountains, some snow-capped, some with extremely
unusual rock formation, waterfalls, valleys and gorges, beautiful greenery and
birds along the way. The Maori term for <i>New
Zealand</i> is <i>Aotearoa; land of the long white cloud </i>and this is very evident all along the drive. The Castle
Hill area has fascinating limestone outcrops and some scenes from the<i> Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy and <i>Chronicles of Narnia</i> have been filmed in
the area. Arthurs Pass is New Zealands highest-altitude settlement and a cute
(if tiny) town and a good base for many hikes, tramps and climbs. Soon after
driving through we come to Deaths Corner where there is a lookout we decide to
stop at. We realise when we get
out of the van that there are kea birds everywhere. They begin to ascend on the
van and start picking away at it and it’s really funny. Keas, native to New
Zealand, are known to be fearless and inquisitive birds, capable of killing
sheep and breaking into your car through the windows. I manage to get up close
to get some pictures. As these parrots spread their wings their beautiful
colours are visible. They are amazing to watch up close. On walking closer to
the edge of the look-out, I see one of the most amazing sights I have seen so
far in New Zealand. We are looking down into a massive gorge with extremely
unusual rock formation on the sides and a little river running below. A bridge,
that looks extremely dodgy takes cars through and it’s safe to say I am very scared going across. The sky and clouds seem to reflect a crystal like
silvery mirror above the valley, creating an almost surreal image. I am in complete awe. And raging that my camera battery has just died!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The drive is quite simply spectacular and no camera
could do the scenery justice. We carry on by beautiful Lake Brunner, which
locals reckon have the worlds best trout fishing, and finally arrive in,
according to a tourist guide, ‘enchanting Greymouth’. We decide to wait until
tomorrow to see if we believe the writer and head to a backpacker and check in.
<a href="http://neptunesbackpackers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Neptunes backpacker</a> is actually a historic West coast pub, part of the old
Gilmer Hotel built in 1905. Dingy? Yes. Old? Yes. Charming? Absolutely. The
nautical themed hostel has a cosy fire, huge fish tanks with turtles and a
wrought iron balcony perfect for soaking up the sunset. There’s also free wifi,
free breakfast and a little bar – so we agree that it was a good choice. We get
chatting to some of the wwoofers, all order 5-dollar dominoes pizza and watch
movies in front of the fire. Call me a granny but I can’t think of a better way
to end the day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Kea bird at Deaths Corner, Arthurs Pass</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFL9OL1lDsfmiaKgQE5AOhMKYKM3b1qeYMiZ3EJwuZDZGfSNII86hW3I9F7BXWO97OEk9C6K725Abh6Cs4SHQb2u8FRBNrbM8Z8IC9vU-rlWvr1194ud4jgq7yqHpsLx2JKpiRxs7HK4/s1600/DSCF0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFL9OL1lDsfmiaKgQE5AOhMKYKM3b1qeYMiZ3EJwuZDZGfSNII86hW3I9F7BXWO97OEk9C6K725Abh6Cs4SHQb2u8FRBNrbM8Z8IC9vU-rlWvr1194ud4jgq7yqHpsLx2JKpiRxs7HK4/s320/DSCF0332.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Lake Brunner - some of the best trout fishing in the world</span></div>
Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-83090236879895471192013-05-22T17:51:00.001-07:002013-05-25T22:04:01.475-07:00Day 7 (May 20th) The centre of Christchurch<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">The sun is out. Finally. I
decide I’m going to brave the still cold weather by wearing flip-flops (or
jandals) and ramble into what once was the city centre of Christchurch. I am
meeting Katie who is from Christchurch and Lenni, from Germany (one of the
chefs in Furneaux who left before I got to meet him – and who the boys talked a
ridiculous amount about). In twenty minutes I get to the Container Mall. Christchurch
has apparently lost a lot of infrastructure and is physically, a shell of its
former self. The town was looking for novel designs to help the city bounce
back and this mall seems to offer a bit of normalcy to the residents, and some
serious contemporary eco-style.
The shipping containers or brightly coloured boxes, house shops, cafes
and galleries and together seem to be one of the most striking features of the
cities renewal, if one of the only ones I come across. We grab a bite to eat
and have a wander. A young girl approaches us and I immediately think she is
selling something or looking for money. Instead she tells us it’s her birthday
today and hands each of us a balloon with a positive message on it. She wants
to ‘spread the cheer’, which we all agree is very sweet. It seems Cantabrians
have proved to be very resilient in the face of adversity, and I find on each
meeting with someone from here, a positive attitude abounds; it’s residents are
embracing change and looking to the future. I say goodbye to the guys and enter
‘Quake City’, a museum dedicated to informing visitors what happened during the
earthquakes. It houses some of the infrastructure from the Christchurch
Cathedral and other iconic buildings, has a documentary playing with
interesting accounts from survivors and a lot of information and pictures
illustrating all aspects of the earthquake, from why, scientifically, it
happened to how mudflow caused more havoc to the city in its aftermath. At ten
dollars, it’s definitely worth a visit. </span><br />
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Lenni and I with our balloons</div>
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Quake City</div>
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A building ruined</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16P1tf-CvwHz9estKd3CF1XDc6K4sBY-EEeXitG_2P8F32PhTkT8M67ok9UGa1-i5IH0Q9lfRhz9ODRY6PQqsWOvIi9UdE-8nXvq3Ps_uBMQigOEcL33PZIGM_ZZdyV811nls9L6n1Xk/s1600/DSCF0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16P1tf-CvwHz9estKd3CF1XDc6K4sBY-EEeXitG_2P8F32PhTkT8M67ok9UGa1-i5IH0Q9lfRhz9ODRY6PQqsWOvIi9UdE-8nXvq3Ps_uBMQigOEcL33PZIGM_ZZdyV811nls9L6n1Xk/s320/DSCF0289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Whats left of Christchurch Cathedral</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I then meet up with Lena and Adam, two good
traveling buddies and Luke, my hitchhiking buddy from yesterday also joins us.
As we wander around the city, I begin to finally realize the extent of the
devastation. There is no ‘city’ anymore. It is quiet, with an almost eerie calmness.
Many roads are blocked off and businesses closed. Massive areas of nothingness
remain where buildings have been wiped out. Other buildings are left in ruins.
Some businesses haven’t even been cleared out, and the remains of the chaos of
the day evident. We peer in the windows of what once was a bakery and see
mouldy sandwiches sitting in the smashed up fridge, fried chicken on a grill,
cakes and muffins in another fridge (looking fairly well in tact mind you, for
two years later, God knows how they were made!) The tables that haven’t been
smashed or turned over contain dirty plates and trays that have yet to be
cleared. There is glass and debris all over the floor and dust everywhere. On a
wooden chair close to the window, we see little mice paw prints in the dust, a
symbol deepening the empty feeling of the place. Yet as I mentioned before,
despite all the chaos and devastation, the people of Christchurch are looking
forward and the city will be rebuilt, eventually. We decide a cold drink is in
order, yet we can’t find a pub that’s open, or a pub at all for that matter. So
we head back to the container mall for coffee. Later that evening we have
dinner and drinks at <a href="http://thepedalpusher.co.nz/" target="_blank">PedalPushers</a> in Addington, which is really busy for a
Monday and refreshing to see. Another day of the travels in the bag. </span></div>
Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-46927274473568720012013-05-22T17:47:00.002-07:002013-05-24T17:45:41.775-07:00Day 6 (May 19th) - Akaroa<div style="text-align: left;">
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I wake up to rain and grey skies. Not ideal
since today I have a <a href="http://www.nz.com/new-zealand/activities/akaroa/akaroa-harbour-nature-cruise.aspx" target="_blank">Nature Cruise</a> booked in Akaroa, an hour and a half east of
Christchurch. I booked the cruise on www.bookme.co.nz<a href="http://www.bookme.co.nz/" target="_blank"> www.bookme.co.nz</a>,
a discount website with tours and offers for things to do around New Zealand.
Definitely worth a visit! The tour isn’t until 1.30pm so I figure I have enough
time to hitchhike there. Luckily my hostel is on the road to Akaroa and after
ten minutes I am picked up by Luke, a young Kiwi working in Christchurch, but
from the North Island. He hasn’t explored any of the South Island so ends up
coming out to Akaroa and on the cruise – awesome as now I have company.</div>
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The
gorgeous surrounds that accompany us on the drive through Banks Peninsula set
the scene for our arrival in Akaroa. Despite the dull weather, there is an
instant attraction to this small, charming French-influenced village. The
nature cruise is great but AGAIN, no spotting of dolphins! I do see seals,
penguins and albatross, which are massive and beautifully graceful birds. I was
hooked watching them when one followed the boat, swooping up and down from side
to side, a seldom occurrence according to the guide. We learn about some of the
fascinating nature on the peninsula and see the first ever Maori settlement in
New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone is visiting
Akaroa, get in touch, as because we didn’t see dolphins, I have another trip
for free! We head into town after the trip for some fish and chips. Delicious!
Akaroa is really pretty and quaint, but I would recommend getting there on a
fine day if possible to see it at its best. Luke drops me back to the Jailhouse
and I spend the night chilling with my dorm mates and a hot water bottle as the
cold has gotten into my bones. Another early night for me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GwxwGR_4rw3Iscv_w-RpdQer5Nh_6PDPXz-pxOASJI7WhYI9yaccb-7ucFAZxC-CA9xVNK-eptdFiSfI_gT_9wGovoPrt68WKHln77PreCtaC2gON6Y4_QOGR4Cdbp_pp5q5wutwfq4/s1600/DSCF0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GwxwGR_4rw3Iscv_w-RpdQer5Nh_6PDPXz-pxOASJI7WhYI9yaccb-7ucFAZxC-CA9xVNK-eptdFiSfI_gT_9wGovoPrt68WKHln77PreCtaC2gON6Y4_QOGR4Cdbp_pp5q5wutwfq4/s320/DSCF0226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB91VzFDEf3MgGTL2EEcWHvfBkfHz9JCq_Dtk63paoP_oFsgOPYunBbjxV_2CMKArk6SSSZsgdyhIhC9rzrLFX9SydGN_6PCOTwCjaxeVSbqg2WAidbnybSsmpZffv55KtmN-ycHnC6CM/s1600/DSCF0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB91VzFDEf3MgGTL2EEcWHvfBkfHz9JCq_Dtk63paoP_oFsgOPYunBbjxV_2CMKArk6SSSZsgdyhIhC9rzrLFX9SydGN_6PCOTwCjaxeVSbqg2WAidbnybSsmpZffv55KtmN-ycHnC6CM/s320/DSCF0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-23368639664982630042013-05-22T17:38:00.002-07:002013-05-24T17:10:39.403-07:00Day 5 (May 18th)...trying to get to Christchurch<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The beds in the hostel were amazing for a
change so I had a lie in until about 10am or so. Amabel, the lady I hitched
with yesterday has offered me a lift heading toward the West coast but I decide
I’m going to do Christchurch next instead. I head out of town on the road for
Christchurch and wait. And wait. And wait. Nobody is picking me up...perhaps
because Hanmer could be quite a touristy area. That or I’m looking a bit
strange today. Finally at about 3pm, hours after I stood on the road, the
lovely Darryl picks me up. We get chatting and whatever happens soon he is
telling me his whole personal life and the problems going with it, and I’m
trying to counsel him and make things seem okay. He tells me he needs a nanny
and any chance I need a job? We have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a good laugh and he drops me off at a bus stop ten minutes from
Christchurch, gives me his card and tries to hide twenty bucks under it. I refuse
to take his money and he ends up putting in a pocket of my bag – ‘treat
yourself to a meal’, he says. Yet again, I am baffled at how people are so nice
and I am so lucky!</span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I get off the bus in Christchurch and have no
map and no idea where I am. There’s nothing really around so I go into the nearest
shop and ask where the city centre is. I immediately regret this as I see the
sadness that has come over the shop assistants face. ‘Well, this was the city
centre, but it’s kind of all scattered around now’. The Christchurch
earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 devastated the city and claimed the lives of 182
people. I’m only seeing the effect of it first hand now. However, despite my
ignorance, the lady is lovely, learns I am going to the Jailhouse Backpacker
(thanks Peter for the recommendation) and gets her friend who is leaving work
and driving by to drive me there! SCORE! <a href="http://jail.co.nz/" target="_blank">The Jailhouse </a>is expensive at 32
dollars a night for a 10 bed dorm without ensuite. However, it is an awesome
place, with some of the cells still in tact from when it closed in 1999. It is
also in the suburb of Addington, which since the quakes, is becoming a new
entertainment hub of Christchurch. So there is plenty of offer for tonight,
especially since a rugby game is on down the road between the Crusaders and
Blues. On arrival in my dorm I meet Liam from the UK, who seems mad to get out
‘on the town’. Despite a rather uneventful day, I am knackered! But he makes me
dinner and persuades me to go out. We get ready, join the rest of the girls
from our dorm and hit <a href="http://www.dineout.co.nz/restaurant.php?rest=7246" target="_blank">Cargo Bar </a>across the road. It was heaving and an awesome
night was had! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfmmhEu6LkcUC1PZFRj-OVLxEmi_Uz3RM7QQxl66JKITZZuU49Dn9yOO4gcsJU48y6CH_fUf3wWnG1RUx1ipyI6ECoAMJjCSKn1ybvYz-IQVDpRMucbcJE0yU4wNsdj5Pm4ikpeEDj0Q/s1600/DSCF0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfmmhEu6LkcUC1PZFRj-OVLxEmi_Uz3RM7QQxl66JKITZZuU49Dn9yOO4gcsJU48y6CH_fUf3wWnG1RUx1ipyI6ECoAMJjCSKn1ybvYz-IQVDpRMucbcJE0yU4wNsdj5Pm4ikpeEDj0Q/s320/DSCF0186.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> The View hitching from Hanmer Springs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> One of the cells in the Jail</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wBOAV3mECNWKzlCHqHorSzZSu8UWHwIypu4NLb72tlp2sKD_e-O4DP-Nbi3fumBsCmokLwCqyW_fSvj0C2rJQFEVnztXZc_wdt9w4of1e09-JJHFomGanEnvfaXNZv7IStfILzgSX_U/s1600/DSCF0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wBOAV3mECNWKzlCHqHorSzZSu8UWHwIypu4NLb72tlp2sKD_e-O4DP-Nbi3fumBsCmokLwCqyW_fSvj0C2rJQFEVnztXZc_wdt9w4of1e09-JJHFomGanEnvfaXNZv7IStfILzgSX_U/s320/DSCF0208.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Time for a boogie</span></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-69692678232618377492013-05-22T17:29:00.002-07:002013-05-22T17:34:28.443-07:00Day 4 (May 17th) Hanmer Springs<div style="text-align: left;">
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I’m up at 730 and head down to the beach to
try catch some whales or dolphins again. No sign. I don’t think they like me.
However, it’s a much clearer day today and I get to admire the beautiful and
majestic southern alps, or the Kaikoura mountains. They are snow-capped and I
suddenly get a thrill of excitement to be back on top of the mountain ready to
snowboard down. Soon, soon! I make myself a coffee with the awful free hostel
coffee (but appreciate it all the same) and lug my bag to where I need to be
for my next hitching post. By 10am I’m picked up by Leo, the most lovely man,
who is on his way to Christchurch but drops me 55k to the turn off for Hanmer
Springs. After 5 minutes I’m picked up by Amabel, Matt and their gorgeous 2
year old Hugo. We arrive in Hanmer Springs about an hour later. They offer me a
lift tomorrow and I offer to babysit if they want and we exchange numbers. I
have a ramble around the town and feel like I’m in a yuppy European ski town.
It’s oak tree-lined streets, shady park and cute cafes give it a lovely feel.
(I take back previous comments). This town is inland, 140km North of
Christchurch and its springs are fed by rainwater seeping through fractures in
the rocks of the Hanmer Mountains, absorbing various minerals and warmed by the
earth’s natural heat, making the famous ‘hot pools’ exist. (Naturally hot
spring water one can bathe in).</div>
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I check into the <a href="http://www.hanmerbackpackers.co.nz/" target="_blank">Hanmer Backpacker</a> which is awesome. (20
minutes in the massage chair free – need I say more!) I decide to check out the
hot pools and whether I am willing to part with 20 bucks to sit in other
peoples dirt. (They are commercial hot pools). I have a look around and decide
against it as I already sat in amazing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">natural</i>
hot pools at Huka Falls near Taupo so I’ve had my fill. I take pictures –
that’s good enough. I decide to go for a hike – it’s rainy and misty but it
will be good for me with the severe lack of exercise I’ve had lately. Traveling around having fun is hard work so I decide to take the shortest walk
– Conical Hill Walk which is an hour or so hike. I walk through what looks like
a tropical rainforest and get to the top lookout point which is pretty
spectacular. Well worth it! I sit and take in the views of the domineering
mountains and low lying cloud and ramble back to the hostel, shower, eat and
have a free massage. Yeahhhh buddy! Now I’m sitting writing this, waffling to
other guests and debating whether to go into town to treat myself to a dessert
somewhere. Looks like the weather will be okay tomorrow so I may be heading further
toward the west coast. Who knows! Until next time...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrCf8K3JEf2K3BySYFiIkrFbtS7uiaaomYmACRYRhn5hz5ta1DBNh2St1uIRv-gqpyie7cdbGEmR2Lxxw0GnubmcIBz9iIUl6OJkvumIGBo_PxxG8_sgCg-M1V0SahoBxqTAsVbCMZc4/s1600/DSCF0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrCf8K3JEf2K3BySYFiIkrFbtS7uiaaomYmACRYRhn5hz5ta1DBNh2St1uIRv-gqpyie7cdbGEmR2Lxxw0GnubmcIBz9iIUl6OJkvumIGBo_PxxG8_sgCg-M1V0SahoBxqTAsVbCMZc4/s320/DSCF0130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI3njVO-NYuUlkcUxDW_Yk6-3ywCya3ADoQOp5KohY36pnQ8y5nCQTWskOx1F9aGO6DLMIFGaRxBfsvCfrRKdwQcS1rXBsidJXZeEwSoAlJz6gz9vT2KQiXdIUoODx-a_tBFKjcaGlu8/s1600/DSCF0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI3njVO-NYuUlkcUxDW_Yk6-3ywCya3ADoQOp5KohY36pnQ8y5nCQTWskOx1F9aGO6DLMIFGaRxBfsvCfrRKdwQcS1rXBsidJXZeEwSoAlJz6gz9vT2KQiXdIUoODx-a_tBFKjcaGlu8/s320/DSCF0164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQYS9ZbeZRFcyXpfHYOdwdFfQq6LDmXkO2LKNNDaDp8P4zP0M9v3DzLArNVeMRVMUh-3yKaRl7rF1zlcbpkZpsZpaWt4NjLCt5RMgN2dzR3o1TIvsD6WOsAocNN-3FT5YJRhBIab-pbQ/s1600/DSCF0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQYS9ZbeZRFcyXpfHYOdwdFfQq6LDmXkO2LKNNDaDp8P4zP0M9v3DzLArNVeMRVMUh-3yKaRl7rF1zlcbpkZpsZpaWt4NjLCt5RMgN2dzR3o1TIvsD6WOsAocNN-3FT5YJRhBIab-pbQ/s320/DSCF0182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-17077678047808505662013-05-22T17:24:00.003-07:002013-05-25T21:57:07.351-07:00Day 3 (May 16th)...pretty Kaikoura<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">I’m up and out by 8am. I use one of the free
bikes to head to New World down the road, pick up some fresh bread and ham for
my day out and then head down to the beach behind the hostel as I’ve been told
there has been lots of whales and dolphins close enough to the shore the last
few days. No sightings for me unfortunately - it’s quite a dull day. I cycle
through the town to the I-site and get some info. The town is small and cute
and has a tacky feel to it, reminding me of Brighton in the UK. (Don’t get me
wrong – tacky can be awesome and Brighton rocks!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Kaikoura, 130km south of Blenheim, enjoys a
lovely setting in the Lee of the Kaikoura Peninsula, wedged between the
mountains and the ocean. The sea bed drops away rapidly to the kilometre deep
canyon bringing lots of sea mammals to the region. The place is named in Maori
after crayfish; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kai (food) koura
(crayfish)</i>. I begin my cycle along the coast so I can do the peninsula
walk. I go by Fyffe House which is made completely from whalebones and began
life as part of the original whaling station. Interesting. I get to the seal
colony and am immediately up close and personal with a shit load of seals. Man,
they are cool. Some are sleeping, some are waddling around, even in the
carpark, others are paddling. Never in my life have I seen sea mammals just
hanging out in an open place like this. It’s awesome! I get a bit too close to
one of them who must have just awoken, to get a picture, and he makes a leap
for me causing me to scream quite loudly and send some other eager tourists
into convulsions of laughter. Hahahaha, screw you tourists! Laughing at
myself also, I begin my ascent up the peninsula while listening to awful New
Zealand radio on my phone. The views are gorgeous and bring me over the grassy
cliffs to South Bay. I come across more seal colonies and rush by a bird nesting
area (where heron, shags and red-billed gulls are rife) in fear of being
attacked. (I had a near death situation in Paihia..well..sort of!) I get back
to my bike after a couple of hours and begin to cycle back. My friend Sarah
(also my personal New Zealand Isite) has told me my other friend Sarah might be
still wwoofing at the Albatross hostel so I pop by hoping to find her. As I
walk in she’s walking out! Woop. We have a coffee and catch up in the awesome
surroundings of the <a href="http://www.albatross-kaikoura.co.nz/" target="_blank">Albatross Hostel</a> (defo a must stay if in Kaikoura).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I head back to my hostel, drop off my bike
and start hitching again to a waterfall 20 minutes out of town. The reason
being: BABY SEALS! I’m soon picked up by Steve, in a 30 metre long truck
carrying about 15 cars – first time for everything! He drops me right where I
need to be and I make my way up the pathway ten minutes to the Waterfall to be
greeted by CUTE OVERLOAD. Oh my God. This is amazing. There must be 100 seal
pups jumping and diving under the waterfall, prancing around the rocks and wait
for it....kissing each other. It really is beyond cute if that’s possible. The
waterfall is pretty cool as well. I hitch back and am picked up pretty soon. I
end up wedged between two men from Samoa in an old, filthy van with food and
building equipment everywhere. Their English isn’t great and as they babble
away in another language I realise the driving skills leave a lot to be
desired. I text Gini telling her to call me if I don’t text her again
in 20 minutes. As it turns out the two men were lovely, fascinated when I told
them about the seals, and dropped me right to my door. Sarah has invited me to
the pub quiz with her crew tonight but I am pretty shattered so have another
boring night in. It’s been a good day!</span></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-32415859938967749402013-05-22T17:16:00.002-07:002013-05-24T16:58:00.132-07:00Day 2 (may 15th)<style>
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I get up and can’t find Wayne so I decide to
write him a little note of thanks, leave him a small bit of cash for his
ridiculously good hospitality and also one of the shell rings I had collected
from Mount Maunganui beach as he admired the one I was wearing yesterday a few
times. I do a few errands in town and have a coffee. Blenheim town is quite
‘meh’. I feel bad describing it like this, but, I don’t think New Zealand can
boast about it’s towns and vilages. Yes there are the cool vibrant cities like
Wellington but the towns to me, on the whole are merely just aesthetically
unimpressive service centres. But it’s okay because EVERYTHING else makes up
for it. Before I know it’s 3pm so I rush back, grab my mother of a suitcase and
get on the road to hitch to Kaikoura. After an hour I’m unsuccessful and hungrily
eyeing up the Burger King across the road. But bam, Steve, a wood-cutter and
volunteer fire-man picks me up and brings me 24k to Seddon where he lives. He
drops me at the town (the one shop), tells me to hitch until it starts to get
dark in half an hour when he’ll come back and if I haven’t been picked up I can
stay with him and his wife for the night – perfect example of Kiwi hospitality.
After 5 minutes I am picked up by a middle-aged lady and her daughter. The lady
loves talking, the daughter loves her earphones, so I quite happily listen to
her babble without having to try get a word in edgeways. Suits me! By the time
we arrive in Kaikoura it’s 7pm and pretty dark so I check into my hostel, the
Sunrise Inn, cook some food and plan the next day.</div>
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</span><i><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Oh
my day was made when I suddenly get a text from Wayne saying 'Yvonne!
You rock! Thank you so much for the wonderful gift...the ring is so
nice, I really like the colour inside the spiral. Your smile has left an
imprint on Jacks. Thank you so much for your stay. Take care out there
and stay safe...and remember to always smile at the world...cause the
whole world is smiling at'. I go to bed happy thinking its one of the
nicest texts I've ever received. </span></span></i></div>
Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-60121941974360193122013-05-22T17:07:00.002-07:002013-05-24T16:59:25.680-07:00Day 1...Let the hitchhiking begin! <div style="text-align: left;">
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So I set off
on the <a href="http://www.cougarline.co.nz/" target="_blank">Cougarline</a> through the Sounds back to Picton. To my dismay, I yet again
do not see any dolphins or orca (I lied earlier when I said I saw them<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>swim by at the wharf ). I am the only
staff member who has never seen them. I did see plenty in Paihia over the
summer though so I can’t be greedy. Instead I chatted away to Fred, the lovely
skipper and cooed over newly born baby Lilly. On arrival in Picton, I lug my
case to the road going to Blenheim so I can get my hitchhike on. Since the
primary roads in NZ are like secondary roads in other, more highly populated
countries, hitch-hiking is still a very popular and accepted form of travel
(well among backpackers anyway). Yes there are dangers, but I say man up and
get the thumb out! (excuse the pun). It has great pros – meeting people with
useful local, knowledge on where you are going, costs virtually nothing (I
always offer to contribute to petrol but it’s never accepted), it allows you to
get to the little nooks and crannies of the country the crappy buses don’t
bring you to and overall it’s a great laugh. My rules are; </span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-don’t hitch after dark</span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-keep your phone on view so it’s obvious you
are in contact with people</span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-Have an excuse if you need to bail</span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-Don’t get into the car with someone
intoxicated by alcohol...(drugs are fine...obviously).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So I have my thumb out for approximately 1.7
seconds when I am picked up by a young couple named Sadie and Billy. They drop
me at Main Street in Blenheim and I proceed to make my way to Jacks
Backpackers, which I learn is a twenty minute walk and it is boiling! And I
have a ridiculously heavy bag...nope not a backpack....and yes I have tried to
get rid of stuff but it’s all my winter snowboarding stuff...I swear) . The
reason I’m staying at Jacks is because when I was trekking the Queen Charlotte
last week, I met Wayne, a 40 year old Kiwi guy with very little teeth, lots of
tattoos and some brand of kiwi accent I could barely understand. But he seemed
like fun and told me to stay at his backpackers in Blenheim. So I looked up
Jacks online a few days later but found very little – just a phone number that
didn’t work and nothing else. So I eventually found it on High Street and got a
bit of a fright. It was a small run-down (looking almost derelict) building
with the front door boarded up. I peered in the side window to see a dull,
dusty room with a few things thrown about the place. Charming. On knocking
there was no answer. So I ramble across the road to the dairy and ask is the
‘backpacker’ still in existence. The lady tells me to go around the back and
when I do I am welcomed by some pot-smoking, dread-locked hippies. When I go
inside I am met by organised mess and a carpet that hasn’t been hoovered in a
few months. The ‘reception’ appears now to be an open store room. The kitchen
is messy but clean, I decide (and hope). And suddnely out of the murky shadowns
appears Wayne who gives me a hug and a warm welcome. ‘It’s not a palace, but it
does the trick’, he says. I ask him can I borrow a bike as I have to be in Mahi
winery by 3pm. You’re not cycling there, he tells me, I’ll drive you. Awesome! </span></div>
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<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We arrive at what looks like a house but it’s
the correct address on trusty google maps so I wave Wayne goodbye and set off
for some wine-tasting. I am meeting Brian, the owner of <a href="http://mahiwine.co.nz/" target="_blank">Mahi wines</a> who was one
of our suppliers at Furneaux . I tweeted him and he got back to me telling me
to come visit. Noice! Malborough wine country’s Sauvignon Blanc single-handedly
put the New Zealand wine industry on the world map, and made this the country’s
largest wine region with almost sixty percent of the national grape crop. The
region, sheltered by the protective hills of the Richmond range, basks in about
2400 hours of sunshine a year making it perfect for ripening the grapes for its
esteemed Sauvignon. (Thanks Lonely Planet). So it turns out that yep, this is
just a house with nobody in. I pop next door the Isabell winery and am sent in
the right direction. While I am walking, I’m admiring the sprawling vineyards.
The sun is blazing and the autumn colours are amazing against a backdrop of the
mountains. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="GA" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: GA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After 5 minutes an awesome, vintage, white mercedes pulls up and a
happy, friendly man gets out, kisses me on the cheek saying ‘you must be
Yvonne!’...’so sorry, google really fucked up there – that was my house you
were at!’. The nice girl at Isabell had called to say I was on my way. So we
drive to Mahi, Brian shows me around inside, grabs a few bottles of wine and
takes me outside to bask in the sunshine overlooking the vineyard and the
mountains. He starts telling me about his small winery, how they specialise in
handpicking and single vineyards and how his wines are made without any of the
‘shit’ that’s put in so many other wines. He tells me how to ‘taste’ and what I
should be looking for and we gayly (no other way to put it) gulp back some
delicious savvy, pinot gris, chardonnay and pinot noir. He then shows me around
inside where the wine actually gets made. There are these beyond massive
metallic vaults and he tells me to put my head inside and smell. I nearly pass
out it’s so strong. Still, I wouldn’t mind having one of these full of wine in
my house! (Think of the parties). Brian is a right character. He tells me many
a story of parties he has had entertaining clients in the winery, and the
mischief people have got up to (including some people feeling like they need to
express their love to eachother wedged in between the vaults...as you do!)
After a full show around, we go outside to enjoy the sun go down and drink wine
with two of the employees. More chats and I am bid farewell with a bottle of
savvy in my hand. Brian, you are a legend! Unfortunately this winery isn’t open
for public tastings so I got a right treat. To pay for something like that with
a free bottle of wine would probably cost at least 100 bucks. I get a lift back
to Jacks, the palace, and find Wayne cooking a few of us dinner. Just throw me
a dollar for the veggies mate, he says! I ask him what I owe him for my bed
tonight and he shrugs it off, ‘this ones on the house’! Seriously? Could this
day get any better? We eat, drink wine and watch the simpsons and I have an
early night. Bliss! </span></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5566995348000755010.post-21143179193886288382013-05-22T16:38:00.003-07:002013-05-30T05:16:14.476-07:00Goodbye Furneaux Lodge! <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA"> So I’ve decided to write a mini, temporary, fun blog to record
my travels on the South Island of New Zealand because it’s nice to be able to share these once in a life time
experiences. I used to love a bit of blogging so time to get my fix again.<span style="font-size: small;"> I’m
traveling on my own because my friend Gini went and broke her wrist and hence
could not be my travel buddy anymore. Silly girl. I plan to hitchhike around and get the odd bus if possible. After my travels I intend to work in Queenstown. So let the adventures begin!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">I’ve spent the last 7 weeks in Marlborough
Sounds (very North of South Island) at a beautiful resort called <a href="http://www.furneaux.co.nz/" target="_blank">Furneaux Lodge</a>. I went to Furneaux to save money and stop partying for a while.
And it worked!... Well almost - there was quite a few late nights and
unattractive bruises but they were worth it for the laughs. Marlborough Sounds
is seriously beautiful. You will probably hear that a lot in this travel post
but anyone who has been there will agree. On a sunny day, it’s perfection. It
basically consists of clear blue water – bays, inlets, islands and peninsulas
rising abruptly from the stillness to rugged, lush, green wilderness. Sometimes
I used to just sit by the wharf and watch it all go by. Well, rarely anything
ever went by, the odd boat about once a day. A dolphin or orca here and there.
We were an hour and a half from Picton in a boat, along the Queen Charlotte
track, so yes, extremely remote. No shops, no phone signal, nada! I made great
friends at Furneaux and had many a lovely chat over a cup of tea. I’m hoping to
meet HANNAH again before I go back to Ireland (If she haven’t been eaten by
Frankie - the dead mouse Simon caught and taunted me with repeatedly, or Ratty
- the MASSIVE rat that scampered through our living room on my last night
forcing me to stay in Hannah's room for fear of being eaten or worse, nibbled
at...shudder!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span lang="GA">Things I will miss about Furneaux</span></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-The devastating beauty (only adjective to
really describe it, sorry!)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Not having to cook, not even once, and
having restaurant standard meals made for us every single day!!! Delish!
(SHANKS Izzie and Si)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Random, crazy nights beginning in the bar
and ending up in the croft</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Having tea made for me regularly (Thanks
Hannah!)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Having barista style coffee whenever we want</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Referring to someone dossing as ‘Tobying’.
Sorry Toby. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Sitting in the croft talking about this that and the other</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Pretty walks</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Listening to Si and Izzie being ridiculously
opinionated and ALWAYS being right (supposedly)..quite funny...this should
maybe in the ‘things I don’t miss’ category</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Getting the piss taken out of me constantly
by the boys. Thanks Si, Izzie and Lee</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Banter with the customers</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Banter in the kitchen during service</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Eating like a king (needs two mentions)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Always feeling at home</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span lang="GA">Things I wont miss about Furneax</span></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Hearing mice, rats and possums in our house
EVERY NIGHT when I was in bed</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Feeling the cold days of winter creeping in,
watching my tan fade and general winter ugliness entering my life again</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-The freezingness of the croft (our staff
house)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Having zero phone signal (although it was
quite refreshing at times)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="GA">-Si having his 'good' music on at full blast at all times possible</span></span></div>
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Yvonnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10138619169768693127noreply@blogger.com0